Ive been using pine needles this year, because theyre all over the ground by the hives, and Ive been short on time, BUT: Last year, when I was a bit more ambitious, I sat down one rainy day, and cut cardboard strips as wide as my smoker is deep, and burlap the same, and rolled them together (alternating) into little canister shapes that slid right in the smoker. I liked them far better than pine needles, but havent had time to make a bunch up yet.

LOL - I know I need to figure out something better than what I'm using. I can't seem to get the smoker to stay lit at all. The pine needles are wet from rain - so no good. And the rope suggest above didn't work for me. Maybe I'm using the wrong rope, but it just won't smolder like I'd want, just keeps going out. I even tried string dipped in wax! I'll be shopping for some burlap tomorrow I think. And I'll try this idea. :)

I prefer cardboard as a smoker fuel as long as it is the corrugated type. Cut it so when you place it in your smoker the corrugate runs vertical(up and down) this helps pruduce plenty of smoke. Cut it just wide enough so it is below the cover of your smoker. Make the roll to any size diameter-depends how long you want smoke(experience will tell you) and I prefer to ignite it with a propane torch,because it is very quick. Once it is lit swing it back and forth by forcing air through the corugates and it will stay lit , then place in smoker. Its free,and from my experience produces a cool smoke. I dont use solid or cardboard without corrugatiion because it wont stay lit.

:idea: My favorite smoker fuel is wood shavings for the 'hamsters'. I get the cedar shavings in large bales from Walmart or any pet store. I keep a bucket of wood shavings on the truck. Second choice is pine straw. Saw dust works too, but it burns quick. The cedar shavings smell nice.

I get a little fire burning with dryer lint and small wood scraps,then toss in some broken up cow patties. Before ya gross out,they are really dried out, so there's no odor at all.Cheap, easy to light and a nice cool smoke. I would comparecow patties' smoke quality to the smoker plugs. I like those too,but have a hard time buying something to burn...Jim

i use cedar chips aswell. i get them free at the sawmill. they are always happy to get rid of them. its best if you wait till they plain the lumber right from the dry kiln. ive also used dry cedar leaves, (bouse?) it works good but doesnt last as long as the chips.

Interesting how some posts return like the previous season of the Sapranos - lol. It is interesting to see the different fuels. I only mention it again because it's up the page about 11 months back that I use clean washed burlap used to wrap clean rags bought through work.

The rags are old clothing ripped into square foot sections and bundled in burlap in 40 pound squares. The burlap gets thrown out, so I grab it up as we go through bundles of rags.

I then take the burlap and cut in roughly foot square sheets. Two dozen sheets lasts me a full season typically, give or take a few.

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You're lucky beemaster :lol: I used burlap last year, from burlap bags I bought at Army Navy. It works great, but I want to find something that I can get for free this year. I will probabbly check out the pine needle thing first.

Logged

Scott----------"If you have no money and you have few possessions, if you have a dog you are still rich"----------"Forgiveness is easier to get than permission"

Just one tip, put the back of your hand, near your wrist about 1 inch from the mouth of the smoker, and puff the smoker. It the smoke passing over your skin is too hot for you to stand, it's certainly going to be too hot for the bees. I attended a lecture from a commercial beekeeper that has worked all over the world in developing countries, as a bee inspector and various other roles and he said one of the #1 mistakes of people who use smoke is that have it too hot. It needs to be cool.

A quick puff on the back of you wrist (a little like testing the water in a bath for babies with your elbow) before smoking a hive gives a reasonable measure of temperatue. He reckons if its hot to the point of discomfort, it's too hot. I tried this a few times, and found dry grass/cardboard often burn too hot.